Budda Superdrive 45 212 Combo

This is an early Budda SD45 2x12 combo. It has two channels and is simple in its layout, with both channels sharing the EQ knobs. I thought this would be a drawback, but so far, it isn't much of a concern. It has channel switching, FX loop, and choice of rectifiers (tube or solid state). I have been playing for many years, currently in a classic-rock band. The amp is EXTREMELY bright, and I usually turn the treble all the way down. The amp is also EXTREMELY loud, with the master being very sensitive to the slightest adjustment.

The combo version is very bright and Marshally, as the designers intended. The distortion is a "modded-retro" if you can appreciate that. I would not use it for a metal band, but it seems to be great for what I need. I use the amp with a Strat and a Jaros Custom with HB Duncans. The combo sounds great by itself, but when I pluuged it into my Mesa 2x12 Recto cabinet, it got all the low-end response that I am used to having with my Mesa Tremoverb. It rocks hard! The amp is very quiet when I'm not playing, and brutally loud when I do play.

I have only had the amp for a few weeks. It is very well-made. No problems of any kind so far. I would use it without a backup.

I called Budda just for some info on the amp and they were exceptionally friendly and helpful. The warranty is Limted Lifetime.

I have been playing for about 30 years, mostly at a semi-pro level. My other amp is a Mesa Tremoverb, which I love dearly. I got the Budda to replace a modded Fender Twin Reverb, which sounded rather bland and flabby on the bottom end. If I had the Budda stolen, I would buy another, but I might go for the SD 30 combo with 1x12, as it would be way easier to carry.

New, 2006. KT66 tubes, 2 channels, pull boosts for bright, modern (mid-scoop), switchable rectifiers, no reverb. Does it have enough power you ask? Oh hell yes...

Budda touts this as an updated version of the Bluesbreaker- more bite and harmonics with a little more edge than the original Bluesbreaker sound.
I, like a lot of players, have always dug the "Beano" tone and sought it out in a box- to no avail. I'm old enough to know that " It's in the fingers, not the gear" ( or the shorts...) and agree with that line of thought. I have owned a few Bluesbreaker style amps ( Marshall Bluesbreaker, Dr. Z Rt. 66) and dug the tones those amps put out, but could not get around the volume level required to produce those tones. These are non- master volume amps and I just don't get a lot of opportunities to blow as loud as I want. So for the most part, the amps never were allowed "out of the cage" and power attenuators just changed the sound too much. Seeing that the Superdrive 45 had a master, I was intrigued. I'm also old enough to know that a master volume affects the overall tone so I didn't expect to get everything I wanted, but I at least expected a nice compromise. No such luck. This is a LOUD amp and sounds better when played LOUD. At low vulume levels it is flat and unresponsive. So much for the master volume concept. The tones are okay, but they just get overshadowed by the sheer LOUDNESS of this amp. The manual says that you will achieve power tube saturation with the master turned up and any tube amp player will know this ahead of time. But when power tubes saturate, the amp should start to compress and sag- not the case here- it just got LOUDER. For example, on the lead channel, with the master at 9:00 and the gain at about 10:00 it sounds okay but really LOUD- LOUD and tight. Although the amp has switchable rectifiers, it seems overly tight even when using the tube rectifier. It is also super bright- with a PRS McCarty I had to run the bass and mids flat out and the treble all the way off, AND back off the tone control to about 2 1/2 to avoid ice pick highs. This may suit some players, but I prefer a more rounded high end and I think anyone who is looking for a Bluesbeaker type sound will agree that "breaking glass" highs are not part of it. Did I mention it's LOUD?

Seems to be extremely well constructed and I have no reason to believe it would not be a totally roadworthy piece of gear.

I bought this from an online retailer and I'm sending it back just 1 day later. I know that if I brought this to a rehearsal and played the blues and rock and roll we do through this amp, I'd be kicked out of the band. I have a Bassman re-issue which I used to think was loud- it is a mere pup next to this LOUD amp. A promising idea not fulfilled.